To find this blog again, just GOOGLE two words: CALMAC ENIGMA.
.
Petition
This petition is NOT yet launched, but it WILL LIKELY appear here in the next few weeks…
I, the undersigned, agree with this petition, for the State-owned ferry company CalMac/CMAL to KEEP it’s soon-to-be-sold “Loch” Class ferries and deploy at least 2 of them on a NEW Campbeltown ~to~ Blackwaterfoot ferry service.
This is in ADDITION to RETAINING the much needed and appreciated Lochranza ~to~ Claonaig ferry service.
1]. If the government agree to this new ferry service, it will SAVE a lot of taxpayer funds, as there is an unused/underused £3,000,000 ferry terminal at Campbeltown, and there are at least 6 excellent, tried, tested and impeccably well maintained “Loch” class ferries about to be scrapped/laid off. These vessels have a good 10 years of life left in each of them to test and see if this proposed new ferry service is viable for the coming 2027 tourist season.
2]. Replacing a “major” ferry from the currently suspended Campbeltown~Ardrossan route with the smaller, more nimble and flexible “Loch” Class ferries will save a lot of money for the government.
3]. Reinstatement of a viable “safety-backup” ferry service to the currently beleaguered main Ardrossan ~to~ Brodick ferry service will SAVE jobs at the economically harmed communities of Arran, plus Ardrossan and Argyll. Particularly Campbeltown which because of its remoteness is often overlooked in terms of job creation and economic recovery efforts.
If there be any doubt how vital the “back-door” ferry route of Lochranza ~to~ Claonaig has proven to be, just witness the all too common overload at the top left “back-door” ferry service upon which Arran has grown to depend for its very economic existence, whenever the main Brodick ~to~ Ardrossan route fails…
To help clarify the ferry route locations, here is a map…
^^ Replacing A Long Ferry Route With A Shorter One ^^
^^ Between Campbeltown-&-Blackwaterfoot Will Help Save Jobs ^^
^^ In Fact The Subscribers Can Prove This Will ^^
^^ Create Many Viable New Jobs ^^
This new, proposed Blackwaterfoot ~to~Campbeltown ferry service is in addition to and in support of the other, thankfully and expertly crewed safety backup ferry service between Lochranza and Claonaig. The aim is to have a second safety backup AND the equivalent of a new style of…
Job & Employment Boosting
NC 500 Coastal Tourism Circuit
Ayr to Arran to Argyll
otherwise known as…
Ardrossan-Brodick-Blackwaterfoot-Campbeltown
We will then ensure the Parliamentary Petitions Committee receive this new ferry route petition.
A similar petition worked 24 years ago, when we suggested to the Transport Secretary in 2001…
Surely there is a solution to remedy this job-killing situation?
The last petition of 9th May 2000 did help a community-wide effort to loop Campbeltown into an economy revitalising and job creating ferry network.
Please check back to this website soon to see if, or rather when we launch the PETITION on the appropriate GOVERNMENT HOSTED WEBSITE, in order to seek a the slight change in route for the current, challenged Campbeltown ~to~ Ardrossan ferry.
To fund this page again, just Google two words…
CalMac Enigma
We will be back soon, once we have figured out how to ensure an “acceptably worded” petition can be hosted on the Government website.
***********
Meanwhile, some examples of the “big” and “smaller’ ferries concerned (think about how much fuel each uses every day)!
^^ Big Boat MV Isle if Arran Needed Elsewhere ^^ ^^ So Campbeltown, Argyll, Ardrossan, Ayr & Arran ^^ ^^ Suffers Economic Harm ^^ MV Isle Of Arran (c) Russ McLean Permission Given By McLean To Reproduce Picture CC BY-SA 4.0
Fortunately, with the new ferries being due for delivery, there will be SIX of these excellent “Loch” class ferries going spare…
^^ Perfect Smaller “Loch” Class Ferry To Operate ^^
^^ Between Campbeltown in Argyll & Blackwaterfoot on Arran ^^
MV Loch Ranza (c) Russ McLean
Permission Given By McLean To Reproduce Picture CC BY-SA 4.0
This means the “BIG” ferry can go permanently elsewhere.
With SIX spare “SMALLER” ferries in the CalMac/CMAL fleet, the result will be a full tourist season and local resident amenity with a much needed economic revival for the benefit of…
=> Southern Argyll and Kintyre + Campbeltown.
=> Plus help save Ardrossan Harbour and the economy of Ardrossan Town Centre.
=> In addition, bring some much needed relief to the bruised economy of Arran after the seven years it took to build MV Glen Sannox.
Important: We are not wishing to engage in the political footballs of this, just help repair the economic difficulties of the past few years at Campbeltown + Arran + Ardrossan.
***********
Information Will Be Added Here Regularly
Details of the jobs at all three communities will be protected by a relatively inexpensive slipway and deployment of 2 from 6 “Loch” class ferries that CalMac/CMAL will be soon selling off.
^^ One of CalMac/CMAL's spare "Loch" Class Ferries ^^
Ideal For New Route Deployment From...
Campbeltown (Argyll) to Blackwaterfoot (Arran)
MV Loch Tarbert (c) Russ McLean
Permission Given By McLean To Reproduce Picture CC BY-SA 4.0
Whereas if CalMac retain 2 or three of these ships, then there will be viable and productive new tourism route.
Thereby improving the local economies and protecting + creating local jobs in Argyll + Arran + Ayrshire.
Saving Money & Creating Jobs
Surely A Good Thing?
**********
Click
You are warmly invited to check back soon for more news…
Just Google “CalMac Enigma”